Orchard sanitation implement

ABSTRACT

An orchard sanitation implement disposes of unharvested nuts which may otherwise be utilized as habitat and food for navel orangeworms. Unharvested nuts are lifted from the orchard floor and delivered to a storage bin of the implement. Once received within the storage bin, the unharvested nuts are separated from other orchard debris by a looping belt which allows unharvested nuts to fall through, but other orchard debris is conveyed outside of the storage bin for deposit either into a container or back to the orchard floor. The unharvested nuts fall through openings in the looping belt, through an outlet at the bottom of the storage bin and into a shredding unit attached to the outlet. The shredding unit shreds and pulverizes the unharvested nuts into a composition which is too small to be utilized by navel orangeworms for habitat or a source of food.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The navel orangeworm (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is the most destructivepest to California tree nut orchards. The navel orangeworm feeds on avariety of fruits and nuts (collectively referred to herein at times as“fruit” or “nuts”, which terms are used interchangeably herein). Navelorangeworm does not over winter in the egg and is dependent for survivalto overwinter as larvae in unharvested nuts left on the tree or on theground. The caterpillars burrow into the fruit, thereby damaging thekernel and contaminate the fruit with frass (insect excrement) andwebbing, and facilitate the entry of the Aspergillus flavus fungus,which produces a carcinogenic mycotoxin.

Navel orangeworm is the most damaging caterpillar to pistachios,resulting in damages of millions of dollars per year. Almonds, figs,pomegranates, and walnuts are also major hosts. The pistachio nut issusceptible to navel orangeworm infestation as soon as hull splitoccurs. The first signs of an infestation are small, pinhole-sizeentrances into the nutmeat. As worms grow in size, the entire nut is fedupon and extensive amounts of webbing and frass are present.

The most critical control procedure is orchard sanitation, which meansdestroying unharvested nuts or fruit from the prior harvest. Any nutsleft on the orchard floor after harvesting (referred to hereinafter as“unharvested nuts”) can provide food and habitat for the pest.Therefore, any unharvested nuts left on the orchard floor need to becollected and destroyed. This hygiene includes shaking the trees duringthe dormant season to remove any remaining unharvested or “mummy” nutsfrom the trees.

Among the devices utilized for destroying the unharvested nuts are flailmowers and disk implements. However, these devices are inconsistent indestroying all of the harvested nuts laying on the orchard floor. Insome cases, the utilized devices fail to collect some of the unharvestednuts. In other cases, some of the nuts which are collected are notadequately destroyed to prevent the nuts from being used as habitat andfood by the navel orangeworms. For example, rather than pulverizing thenuts, flail mowers can propel whole nuts to another part of the orchardfloor. In other cases, the nuts do go through the device but are notsufficiently pulverized to prevent the nuts from being utilized forhabitat or food by the pests.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A solution to the above described problem is provided by embodiments ofthe disclosed apparatus and method. An embodiment of an implement foruse in an orchard for receiving and shredding a plurality of unharvestednuts has a collection apparatus which collects the plurality ofunharvested nuts. An acceptable collection apparatus may be a harvestingunit. The harvesting units typically have structural members at thefront of the units, such as revolving brushes or blowers which gathernuts inward to a position where the harvesting units goes directly overthe gathered nuts. In addition to nuts, the collection apparatus willalso gather other orchard debris, such as tree branches, brush, dirtclods, etc.

Once the gathered nuts and orchard debris have been directed to theunderside of the harvester, the harvesting unit will utilize liftingdevices, such as pick-up belts, conveyors, or vacuums to gather thecollected nuts and debris The collected nuts and debris are transportedto the rear of the harvester by a series of conveyors and/or belts anddelivered to the disclosed implement. However, it is to be appreciatedthat other devices and means may be utilized to deliver the unharvestednuts to the disclosed implement. For example, the implement itself mayhave integral brushes and lifting chains for delivering the nuts andorchard debris into the implement. Alternatively, nuts and orcharddebris may be delivered manually to embodiments of the disclosedimplement.

Embodiments of the disclosed implement will typically be towed, althougha self-propelled embodiment may also be configured by those skilled inthe art of the invention. If a harvester is utilized to collect theunharvested nuts and orchard debris, the harvester will typically betowed by a tractor, and the implement towed by the harvester utilizing athree-point hitch. Hydraulic power required by the implement may beself-contained, with a motor-pump package contained on the implementitself. Alternatively, the motor-pump package may be contained on thetow vehicle (harvester, tractor, or other towing apparatus, withhydraulic hoses run to the implement to operate various devicesrequiring hydraulic power, such as power cylinders and hydraulic motorswhich may be utilized to drive the looping chain and shredding unitsdescribed below.

The implement has one or more storage bins which are configured toreceive the plurality of unharvested nuts and the assortment of orcharddebris picked up from the ground surface of the orchard. The storage binhas a front, a rear, a top, a bottom, and a plurality of side walls. Thebottom of the storage bin has an open outlet. The plurality of sidewalls may have a funnel configuration which directs unharvested nutsinto the open outlet. The storage bin may further comprise deflectorplates which direct nuts and debris being delivered to the storage binby the collection apparatus.

A looping chain may be disposed within the storage bin. A drivingmechanism is attached to the looping chain, which allows the loopingchain to rotate in an endless loop configuration. While the loopingchain may be disposed such that the looping chain is oriented with a topside of the chain traversing in a loop extending from the front to therear of the storage bin, it is to be appreciated that the looping chainmay also be configured with the loop extending from side-to-side of thestorage bin. The looping chain has a plurality of openings where theopenings are sized such that as the looping chain rotates, at least aportion of the unharvested nuts pass through the plurality of openingsand drop into the bottom of the storage bin. Assorted debris collectedfrom the orchard floor larger than the unharvested nuts is conveyed bythe looping chain to a position outside of the storage bin, such as to adebris container located at either the rear of the implement or to theside, depending upon the orientation of the looping chain.Alternatively, the assorted debris may simply be transported over theside of the storage bin by the looping chain to the ground surface forsubsequent collection.

Embodiments of the invention may also have a shaker which works inconjunction with the looping chain to facilitate separation ofunharvested nuts from other orchard debris.

Embodiments of the invention may also have a shredding unit which has aninlet disposed adjacent to the open outlet of the storage bin. Theshredding unit is configured to receive and shred the unharvested nutswhich enter into it. Upon being shredded, the shredded or pulverizednuts are discharged to the ground surface of the orchard. The shreddedfragments will typically have a size no larger than 5/16^(th) of aninch. The shredded fragments are small enough that there is no remainingpart of the nut which may be utilized by navel orangeworm for food orhabitat. The shredded fragments may be left in windrows directly belowthe implement as it moves. The shredded fragments may be utilized as acompost material which is spread across the orchard floor or collected.

The shredding unit will typically comprise a plurality of radial bladeswhich are configured side-by-side along a blade shaft. The blade shaftmay be oriented such that it is in alignment with a lengthwise axis(i.e., front to rear) of the implement. The shredding units willtypically operate at a relatively low speed, ranging from 30-60 RPM. Thecontrols of the shredding unit may be configured such that if theshredder jams up, it will reverse itself at least four times in aneffort to unjam, and then shutdown if the jam cannot be cleared.

The implement has a chassis which supports the storage bin, shreddingunit, and other components of the implement. The chassis will besupported by wheels which engage the ground surface.

A method of reducing crop loss in an orchard from navel orangeworm isalso disclosed. Embodiments of the method comprise collecting debrisfrom a ground surface of the orchard, where the debris, for purposes ofthe method, may comprise unharvested nuts, tree branches, brush, leavesand dirt clods.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a tractor towing a harvester and an embodiment of thedisclosed orchard sanitation implement.

FIG. 2 depicts a side view of a harvester in position to depositunharvested nuts and other materials into an embodiment of the disclosedorchard sanitation implement.

FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment of a looping chain disposed within astorage bin of an embodiment of the disclosed orchard sanitationimplement.

FIG. 4 depicts a front lower view of an embodiment of the disclosedorchard sanitation implement.

FIG. 5 depicts a side view of disclosed orchard sanitation implement,with a portion of a storage bin sidewall removed to show the shreddingunit.

FIG. 6 depicts a downward looking view into the storage bin showing theshredding unit disposed at the outlet of the storage bin.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the Figures, FIG. 1 depicts a configuration of atractor 10, harvester 20, and an embodiment of the disclosed orchardsanitation implement 100 disclosed herein. As shown in FIG. 1 , in thisconfiguration the tractor 10 is towing the harvester 20 with athree-point hitch 12 and a power takeoff 16 is utilized to drive thesystem hydraulics on the harvester 20. Harvester 20 utilizes brushes orblowers to direct nuts and orchard debris to a position below theharvester, where a collection chain, conveyor or vacuum will pick up thenuts and orchard debris, ultimately delivering the nuts and orcharddebris to the orchard sanitation implement 100 through chute 22. Orchardsanitation implement 100 is connected to harvester 12 by hitch 24

FIG. 2 depicts an embodiment of the orchard sanitation implement 100wherein the harvester 20 acts a collection apparatus for the implement.Harvester 20 has a discharge chute 20 which deposits unharvested nutsand other orchard debris into the storage bin 102 of the implement 100.Storage bin 102 has a front 104, a rear 106, a plurality of side walls108, and, as shown on FIG. 6 , a bottom 110 which forms an outlet. Theembodiment of the implement 100 depicted in FIG. 1 also has a left-sidedeflector plate 130 and a right-side deflector plate 132 which deflectunharvested nuts and orchard debris onto looping chain 140. FIG. 2further depicts an embodiment of the implement 100 having a debriscontainer 120 attached at the rear 106 of the storage bin 102, althoughit is to be appreciated that debris container 120 may also be attachedat a side of the storage bin if looping chain 140 is configured in aside-to-side configuration as opposed to the front 104 to rear 106configuration depicted in FIG. 2 . The embodiment of the implementdepicted in FIG. 2 also has a shredding unit 150 disposed beneath thestorage bin 102. The shredding unit 150, storage bin 102, and othercomponents of this embodiment of the implement 100 are supported bychassis 160. Chassis 160 has ground engaging wheels 170. Some of thecircuits, relays, and other devices required for remote operation forthis embodiment of the implement 100 may be contained within control box180. These controls allow remote operation of the looping chain 140 andthe shredding unit 150 by an operator located in tractor 10.

FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of looping chain 140. Looping chain 104 hasa plurality of openings 142 which are sized such that as the loopingchain rotates, all or a substantial portion of the collected unharvestednuts fall through the openings into the portion of the storage bin 102below the chain. Looping chain 140 is mounted on a frame 144 and isdriven by a drive mechanism 146 which will typically be rotated by ahydraulic motor (not shown).

FIG. 4 shows an exterior view of the front of an embodiment of animplement 100, showing the positioning of shredding unit 150 as attachedto the bottom 110 of storage bin 102. Shredding unit 150 is operated bya hydraulic motor 152.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of the bottom 110 of the storage bin, with apanel removed from a side 108 of the storage bin to show the inlet intothe shredding unit 150. As shown in FIG. 5 , shredding unit 150 has aplurality of radial blades 154 which are disposed along a shaft which isin axial alignment along an axis defined from the front 104 to rear 106of the storage bin. Shredding unit will typically operate at speeds of30 to 60 RPM, with an optimal rotational speed of approximately 48 RPM.The shredder will shred the unharvested nuts into a compost-like texturewith no fragments larger than 5/16^(th) inch. These fragments drop outthrough the bottom of the shredder 150 directly onto the ground surfacebeneath the implement. The fragments may thereafter be picked or left inplace as compost, leaving no nut fragment large enough to provide foodor habitat for navel orangeworms.

As shown in FIG. 6 , the interior of the storage bin 102 may have sidewalls which funnel unharvested nuts into the outlet 110 of the storagebin into shredder 150.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, what isclaimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includesthe following:

The invention claimed is:
 1. An implement for use in an orchard forreceiving and shredding unharvested nuts gathered from a ground surfaceof an orchard, the implement comprising: a chassis having wheels whichengage the ground surface; a shredding unit mounted on the chassis, theshredding unit comprising a top side for receiving the unharvested nuts,the shredding unit configured to shred the unharvested nuts into acompost material having a particle size no larger than 5/16 inch anddischarging the compost material through a bottom side of the shreddingunit; a storage bin mounted above the top side of the shredding unit,the storage bin configured to receive the unharvested nuts, wherein thestorage bin comprises a front, a rear, a top, a plurality of side walls,and a bottom comprising an open outlet in facing relation with the topside of the shredding unit, the side walls configured to funnel theunharvested nuts through the open outlet into the top side of theshredding unit; and a looping chain disposed within the storage bin, thelooping chain attached to a drive mechanism which rotates the loopingchain, the looping chain comprising a plurality of openings wherein theopenings are sized such that as the looping chain rotates, at least aportion of the unharvested nuts pass through the plurality of openingsand drop into the bottom of the storage bin.
 2. The implement of claim1, wherein the unharvested nuts are configured to be gathered from theground surface of the orchard by a harvester, and the harvester isconfigured to deliver the unharvested nuts to the storage bin of theimplement.
 3. The implement of claim 2, wherein the harvester isconfigured to collects orchard debris from the ground surface anddelivers the orchard debris to the storage bin of the implement alongwith the unharvested nuts.
 4. The implement of claim 3, wherein theplurality of openings of the looping chain are sized such that as thelooping chain rotates, at least a portion of the orchard debris isconveyed to the rear of the storage bin and deposited outside of thestorage bin.
 5. The implement of claim 4, wherein the at least a portionof the orchard debris is configured to be deposited into a debriscontainer attached to the rear of the implement.
 6. The implement ofclaim 1, wherein the drive mechanism for the looping chain comprises afirst hydraulic motor and the shredding unit is operated by a secondhydraulic motor.
 7. The implement of claim 6, wherein the firsthydraulic motor and the second hydraulic motor are powered by ahydraulic pump.
 8. The implement of claim 7, wherein the hydraulic pumpis disposed on the implement.
 9. The implement of claim 7, wherein thehydraulic pump is configured to be disposed on a vehicle towing theimplement.